Gym Teacher for the Day: Free Anti-Bullying and Self-Defense Talks for Newark-Area Schools
Impact Family Martial Arts provides a free, community-focused school talk for educators and youth leaders throughout Newark, Ohio, and nearby communities.
Through the “Gym Teacher for the Day” program, owner Ben Bisso visits a school for one class period to discuss anti-bullying, verbal self-defense, confidence, respect, focus, and personal safety.
The first school talk is absolutely free. There is no cost and no obligation.
Ben has worked in the martial arts industry since 1999 and has served the Newark community since that time. His experience includes working with children, teachers, and staff in school gyms and classrooms. The program is designed as a practical resource for schools, daycares, and youth organizations that want to reinforce positive behavior and personal safety in an age-appropriate way.
What Happens During a Gym Teacher for the Day Visit?
The visit takes place at the participating school rather than at the Impact Family Martial Arts facility. Ben joins one class period as a guest gym teacher and leads an educational, active discussion focused on skills students can understand and practice responsibly.
Topics may include:
- Recognizing the difference between confidence and aggression
- Using respectful communication during difficult situations
- Understanding the importance of focus and self-control
- Responding to bullying without escalating the situation
- Knowing when and how to involve a trusted adult
- Practicing basic personal-safety principles
- Building respect for classmates, teachers, and school staff
The presentation is intended to complement the school’s existing expectations and student-support efforts. It does not replace a school’s policies, counseling services, crisis procedures, or administrative response systems. Instead, it gives students another opportunity to hear consistent messages about responsibility, kindness, boundaries, and seeking help.
The goal is not to frighten students or encourage them to fight. The goal is to help them understand that personal safety includes awareness, communication, good judgment, and knowing when to ask adults for assistance.
Understanding the Talk / Tell / Tackle Framework
A central part of the school talk is the Talk / Tell / Tackle framework. This model presents verbal self-defense as a simple escalation process. It helps students consider what response is appropriate for the situation instead of reacting impulsively.
Talk
The first step is to use clear, respectful words when doing so is safe and appropriate. A student may communicate a boundary, state that a behavior is not acceptable, or tell another student to stop.
Tell
If the situation continues, feels unsafe, or cannot be resolved through communication, the student should tell a trusted adult. That may include a teacher, counselor, principal, coach, parent, daycare director, or another responsible adult.
Tackle
“Tackle” represents taking the next appropriate action with adult support. It does not mean students should physically tackle someone or attempt to solve serious situations through violence. In this context, it means addressing the problem responsibly by following school procedures, moving to a safer location, reporting what happened, and accepting help from adults who are responsible for the student’s safety.
For educators, this framework can serve as a straightforward language tool. Staff members may reinforce the same progression in classrooms, hallways, athletic settings, and youth programs. Because every situation is different, school personnel remain responsible for determining the appropriate response under their own policies.
Why Is the First Talk Free?
Impact Family Martial Arts offers the first Gym Teacher for the Day school talk at no cost because the program is a way to introduce the organization to local schools and youth-serving professionals. It gives educators an opportunity to meet Ben, learn about his approach, and determine whether the presentation fits the school’s goals.
There is no obligation to schedule another program. The free visit is intended to be a useful community service, not a high-pressure sales presentation.
Impact Family Martial Arts has built its reputation around helping people become more focused, fit, and confident through practical instruction and character development. The same emphasis on respect, humility, kindness, and responsible decision-making guides the school talk program.
For school leaders, this creates a low-barrier opportunity to bring in a local professional with long-term experience in martial arts education. For students, it provides a structured conversation about personal safety and positive choices. For teachers and staff, it can support the broader work already taking place in the school community.
Additional Programs for Schools and Youth Organizations
The free talk is the starting point, but Impact Family Martial Arts also offers additional services for organizations that need more extensive instruction.
Paid School Seminars
Schools may request paid seminars tailored to a particular topic or audience. Possible areas include anti-bullying education, confidence, personal safety, verbal self-defense, and practical martial arts instruction. Seminar details, scheduling, and pricing can be discussed directly with the Impact Family Martial Arts team.
Staff Self-Defense Training
Teachers, administrators, daycare employees, coaches, and other youth-serving professionals may benefit from dedicated self-defense training. Staff instruction can address awareness, boundaries, physical safety concepts, and appropriate responses in a professional setting.
Any staff program should be coordinated around the organization’s policies, responsibilities, and specific needs. Impact Family Martial Arts can discuss the intended audience and goals before recommending a format.
Ongoing Youth Programs
Impact Family Martial Arts also provides ongoing programs for children and families in the Newark area. The Little Ninjas program serves children ages 3–4, with instruction focused on age-appropriate movement, confidence, listening, and foundational skills. Youth Martial Arts serves school-age children and teenagers through a blend of martial arts training, self-defense concepts, discipline, focus, and character development.
Families looking for kids karate in Newark, Ohio can review the Youth Martial Arts program. Families interested in younger children can learn more about Preschool Martial Arts.
The school also offers Adult Martial Arts, Krav Maga, Fitness Kickboxing, and Brazilian Jiujitsu. These programs provide options for adults, parents, and families seeking fitness, confidence, and self-defense training.
Who Does the Program Serve?
The Gym Teacher for the Day program is intended for adult decision-makers who serve children and young people, including:
- Teachers
- Principals and assistant principals
- School counselors
- Athletic directors and coaches
- Daycare directors
- Youth organization leaders
- Program directors and community leaders
The program may be appropriate for elementary, middle school, high school, daycare, and youth organization settings, depending on the needs of the host organization and the age of the participants.
Impact Family Martial Arts serves Newark, Heath, Granville, Hebron, and Utica, Ohio, along with nearby communities within roughly a 10-mile radius of Newark. Visits are conducted off-site at the school or organization.
Speaking availability is generally Monday through Friday, between approximately 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Availability should be confirmed when scheduling.
Reinforcing the Message Beyond the Visit
Students benefit when the adults in their lives use consistent language and expectations. Schools, families, daycares, and youth organizations can reinforce the talk by encouraging children to communicate clearly, report concerns, respect boundaries, and seek help when necessary.
Parents and caregivers also play an important role. A parent’s role is to provide calm authority and guidance, not simply to act as a child’s friend. Clear expectations, consistent follow-through, and respectful boundaries help children understand how to respond to challenges. The same principle applies in classrooms and youth programs: adults can be warm and supportive while still maintaining responsible leadership.
A school does not need to create a martial arts program to benefit from these ideas. Simple, consistent reminders about respect, communication, focus, and asking for help can become part of a larger culture of safety.
Book a Free School Talk
Schools and youth organizations in the Newark area are invited to contact Impact Family Martial Arts about the Gym Teacher for the Day program. The first talk is free, with no cost and no obligation.
To discuss a visit, call the dojo and ask for Rachel:
- 740-345-8833
- 740-217-6739
Both numbers are for phone calls only and cannot receive text messages. Organizations may also send a message through the Impact Family Martial Arts website.
For merchandise and online access to the Impact blog, visit the primary Impact Gear Shopify site.
Impact Family Martial Arts
1056 Mount Vernon Rd.
Newark, OH 43055